Broxbourne

Broxbourne's population increased by about 6,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Broxbourne increased by 7.5%, from just under 87,100 to 93,600.

The addition of almost 6,600 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Broxbourne was home to, on average, 13 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Broxbourne

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Broxbourne increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than Eastof England and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 16.0% of people in Broxbourne are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Broxbourne by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Broxbourne residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.5% in 2001. The percentage of Broxbourne residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.6% to 12.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Broxbourne decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Broxbourne, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Broxbourne saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (49.0%) people aged 16 and over in Broxbourne said they were married, compared with 55.1% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 27.8% to 32.8%.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield (from 51.5% to 44.7%) and Fenland (from 56.4% to 50.3%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of married people.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 54.2% to 49.9%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Broxbourne, which comprised a single parent, increased from 9.2% to 11.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in three (36.3%) households had a married couple, compared with 42.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Broxbourne, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.9% to 10.0%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Broxbourne increased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Broxbourne, Eastof England and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Broxbourne

The percentage of Broxbourne residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.7% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.5%, while the percentage of Broxbourne residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.9% to 90.3%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Broxbourne

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Broxbourne was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.9 points.

In 2011, 23.8% of respondents in Broxbourne gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 13.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 16.8% to 27.9%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Broxbourne, 65.0% said they were Christian, compared with 76.4% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.2% to 7.0%.

In Broxbourne, 7.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.2% in 2001. In East, 7.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Broxbourne increased by 9.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Broxbourne by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Broxbourne, but at a slower rate than in Enfield (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Broxbourne).

In Broxbourne, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.2% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Enfield increased from 9.9% to 22.2%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.6%.

The rate of social housing in Broxbourne remained close to 14.1%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78.6% to 72.9%.

Private renting in Broxbourne increased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Broxbourne, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Broxbourne working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.2% to 10.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Broxbourne decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Broxbourne, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Broxbourne

In 2011, 4.2% of Broxbourne residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from from 1.2% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.9% to 2.1%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 90.3% of people in Broxbourne said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 96.1% in 2001. About 2.3% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 1.5% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.0% to 2.3%.

the population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Broxbourne increased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Broxbourne by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Broxbourne residents that were unemployed increased from 2.4% to 4.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.6%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56.5% in 2001. While the percentage of Broxbourne residents that were self-employed increased from 10.0% to 11.7%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Broxbourne increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Broxbourne, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Broxbourne

The percentage of households without children fell here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Enfield.

In Broxbourne, the proportion of households without children decreased from 55.9% in 2001 to 54.7% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Enfield decreased from 56.4% to 51.2%.

Across Eastof England, the share of households without children decreased from 61.3% to 60.8%.

The proportion of households with children in Broxbourne increased from 31.6% to 32.9%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 12.5%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Broxbourne residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Broxbourne remained close to 2.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Broxbourne by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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